Films

Dead Man Down - (R, violence, language throughout and a scene of sexuality) Niels Arden Oplev, the acclaimed director of the original "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo," makes his American theatrical debut with this provocative new thriller. Colin Farrell and Noomi Rapace star as two strangers, irresistibly drawn to each other, whose mutual desire for revenge unravels in an escalating trail of violence. The film co-stars Academy Award-nominee Terrence Howard and Dominic Cooper, from a screenplay by J.H.Wyman. 110 minutes. Frequency Films. Playing at Regal Cinemas Galleria 16, Poughkeepsie; Regal Cinemas Fishkill; Regal Cinemas Hudson Valley Mall, Kingston.

The Gatekeepers★★★½ - (PG-13, violent content including disturbing image) Director Dror Moreh gets the six surviving former directors of Shin Bet, the Israeli secret service, to talk about their work and their country. Each is fascinating and each thinks violence will never be the road to peace. Sony Pictures Classics. 95 minutes.

Oz the Great and Powerful★★★ - (PG, sequences of action and scary images, brief mild language) The film aims for nostalgia in older viewers who grew up on "The Wizard of Oz" and still hold the classic dear while simultaneously enchanting a newer, younger audience. It never really accomplishes either successfully. At its center is a miscast James Franco, who is hurled away from dusty Kansas to the vibrant Land of Oz. He meets three witches, Theodora (Mila Kunis), Evanora (Rachel Weisz) and Glinda (Michelle Williams) who are not convinced he is the great wizard everyone's been expecting. Directed by Sam Raimi. Disney. 130 minutes. Playing at Lyceum Six, Red Hook; Roosevelt Cinemas, Hyde Park; New Paltz Cinemas; Moviehouse, Millerton; Regal Cinemas Galleria 16, Poughkeepsie; Regal Cinemas Fishkill; Regal Cinemas Hudson Valley Mall, Kingston.

Life of Pi★★★ - (PG, emotional thematic content throughout, and some scary action sequences and peril) A boy trapped is on a lifeboat with a tiger. The 3-D is astounding, and newcomer Suraj Sharma is really good in the title role. Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. 127 minutes. Playing at Roosevelt Cinemas, Hyde Park; Lyceum Six, Red Hook; New Paltz Cinemas; Moviehouse, Millerton; Regal Cinemas Hudson Valley Mall, Kingston.

Parental Guidance - (PG, some rude humor) Artie and Diane agree to look after their three grandkids when their type-A helicopter parents need to leave town for work. Problems arise when the kids' 21st-century behaviors collide with Artie and Diane's old-school methods. Starring Billy Crystal, Bette Midler and Marisa Tomei. Directed by Andy Fickman. Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. 104 minutes. Playing at Silver Cinemas, South Hills Mall, Poughkeepsie.

Rise of the Guardians - (PG, thematic elements, some mildly scary action) When the evil spirit Pitch launches an assault on Earth, the Immortal Guardians team to protect the innocence of children. Featuring the voices of Hugh Jackman, Alec Baldwin and Isla Fisher. DreamWorks Animation. 97 minutes. Playing at Silver Cinemas, South Hills Mall, Poughkeepsie.

The Guilt Trip★★★½ - (PG-13, profanity) Barbra Streisand and Seth Rogen are perfectly matched in Anne Fletcher's road-trip comedy that looks at the relationship between a mother and son. Paramont Pictures. 95 minutes. Playing at Silver Cinemas, South Hills Mall, Poughkeepsie.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey★★½ - (PG-13, extended sequences of intense fantasy action violence, frightening images) Judging part one of Peter Jackson's "The Lord of the Rings" prelude "The Hobbit" is a bit like reviewing a film after seeing only the first act. Stuffed with Hollywood's latest technology, the result is some eye candy that truly dazzles and some that utterly distracts. The technology may improve the story's translation to the screen. There's just not that much story to Tolkien's "Hobbit," though. Jackson is stretching a breezy 300 pages to the length of a Dickens miniseries, and those in-between bits really stick out in part one. From a Hobbit's lips to a filmmaker's ears. Let's hope Jackson has the goods to improve on a so-so start. Otherwise, "The Hobbit" - subtitled "There and Back Again" by Tolkien - is going to feel like traveling the same road more than twice. Starring Ian McKellen, Elijah Wood, Cate Blanchett and Christopher Lee. Warner Bros. banner New Line Cinema and MGM. 169 minutes. Playing at Silver Cinemas, South Hills Mall, Poughkeepsie.

Jack Reacher★★★ - (PG-13, violence, language, some drug material) A homicide investigator digs deeper into a case involving a trained military sniper who shot five random victims. Tom Cruise in the lead role. Also starring Rosamund Pike and Richard Jenkins. Directed by Christopher McQuarrie. Paramount Pictures. 130 minutes. Playing at Silver Cinemas, South Hills Mall, Poughkeepsie.

Jack the Giant Slayer★★★ - (PG-13, intense scenes of fantasy action violence, some frightening images and brief language) An ancient war is re-ignited when a young farmhand opens a gateway between our world and a The giants strive to reclaim the land they once lost, forcing the young man, Jack, into the battle of his life to stop them. Directed by Bryan Singer. Stars Nicholas Hoult, Stanley Tucci, Ewan McGregor. New Line Cinema. 115 minutes. Playing at Moviehouse, Millerton; Lyceum Six, Red Hook; Roosevelt Cinemas, Hyde Park; New Paltz Cinemas; Regal Cinemas Galleria 16, Poughkeepsie; Regal Cinemas Fishkill; Regal Cinemas Hudson Valley Mall, Kingston.

The Last Exorcism Part II - (PG-13, horror violence, terrir and brief language) As Nell Sweetzer tries to build a new life after the events of the first movie, the evil force that once possessed her returns. Stars Ashley Bell, Julia Garner, Spencer Treat Clark. Arcade Pictures. 88 minutes. Playing at Regal Cinemas Galleria 16, Poughkeepsie; Regal Cinemas Fishkill; Regal Cinemas Hudson Valley Mall, Kingston.

Les Misérables★★½ - (PG-13 for suggestive, sexual material, violence, thematic elements) Hugh Jackman, a good singer, makes a good Valjean. Russell Crowe is less effective as Javert because of his vocal limitations. Best of all is Anne Hathaway, who brings a little restraint to the proceedings. Universal Pictures. 157 minutes. Playing at Silver Cinemas, South Hills Mall, Poughkeepsie.

Quartet★★★ - (PG-13, brief strong language, suggestive humor) Dustin Hoffman's directorial debut is a delightful visit to a home for aging musicians, whose goofy balance is upset by the arrival of a former diva (Maggie Smith) who still fits the description. With Michael Gambon, Billy Connolly and more. The Weinstein Company. 98 minutes. Playing at Downing Film Center, Newburgh; Upstate Films, Rhinebeck; Regal Cinemas Galleria 16, Poughkeepsie.

Snitch★★★ - (PG-13, drug content, sequences of violence) Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson is John Matthews, a business owner who tries to topple a drug cartel in and get his son out of prison. Also stars Susan Sarandon, Barry Pepper. Summit Entertainment. 112 minutes. Playing at Roosevelt Cinemas, Hyde Park; Regal Cinemas Galleria 16, Poughkeepsie; Regal Cinemas Hudson Valley Mall, Kingston.

MATURE AUDIENCES

Argo★★★★ - (R, language nd some violent images) Six Americans escape the U.S. Embassy before Iranian militants took 52 people hostage there in 1979 and hide out in the Canadian embassy. Warner Bros. Pictures. 120 minutes. Playing at Regal Cinemas Galleria 16.

Gangster Squad★★ - (R, for strong language and violence) Story of the Los Angeles Police Department's fight to keep East Coast mafia types out of the city in the 1940s and '50s. Stars Sean Penn, Ryan Gosling, Josh Brolin, Emma Stone. 113 minutes. Langley Park Productions. Playing at Silver Cinemas, South Hills Mall, Poughkeepsie.

A Good Day to Die Hard★★ - (R, violence, language) Bruce Willis travels to Russia to help his son (Jai Courtney), a CIA agent invovled in a political mission. Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. 97 minutes. Playing at Regal Cinemas Galleria 16, Poughkeepsie; Regal Cinemas Hudson Valley Mall, Kingston.

Koch - (NR) Documentary about the late Ed Koch, mayor of New York City from 1978-1989. Directed by Neil Barsky. 100 minutes. Playing at Downing Film Center, Newburgh; Upstate Films, Tinker Street Cinema, Woodstock.

Lore - (NR) Left to fend for herself when her SS officer father and mother, a Nazi believer, are captured by the Allies at the end of World War II, Lore, a fourteen-year-old German girl (Saskia Rosendahl,) must lead her four siblings on a journey across a devastated country. Directed by Cate Shortland. In German with English subtitles. Rohfilm. 109 minutes. Playing at Moviehouse, Millerton.